Phonograph



May 30, 1933 B. E. MILLS AUTOMATICl PHoNoGRAPH Filed Feb. l0, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 1 May 30, 1933. B, E. MILLS AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l0, 1930 May 30, 1933. B. E. MILLS 1,911,707

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. l0, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 30, 1933.B. E. MILLS 1,911,707

AUTOMATIC PHONOYGRAPH Filed Feb. l0, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 30, 1933.B. E. MILLS 1,911,707

AUTOMAT I C PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. l0, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 30,1933.

B. E. MILLS 1,911,707

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 10, 1930 e sheenssheet 6 flo Patented AMay 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT E. HILLS, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS., ASSIGNOIB,v TO MILLS NOVELTYCOMPANY, 0F CHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS AUTomLTIcPHoNoGwH Application filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,361.

This invention relates to an automatic phonograph in which provision ismade for automatically selecting and playmg any one of a series ofrecords which are mounted upon a carrier by which they are moved to andfrom a playing station. The invention contemplates a machine of thischaracter which may be adapted for coin operation.

One of the objects of the invention 1s to provide in a machine of thischaracter a cam device in which the actuating cam element forms a partofa unitary structure including the record carrier which is periodically'rotated to change from one record to another. Another object of theinvention is to provide in combination with said rotatable structuremeans operable by the actuating cam .for controlling the record playingand drivlng 'mechanism in timed relation to the movement record to theother may be automatically effected without jarring the mechanism or inany way interferring with the action of the carrier in presentingsuccessive or selected records to the playing station.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tone arm which ispivoted to swing about both a horizontal and a vertical axis whereby thearm may be swung into and out of a playing position withoutinterferringwith the adjacent record supports.

A still further object of the invention is to provide speed controlmeans controlled by the movement of the tone arm to automaticallyregulate th'e movement of the record carrier.

Further objects and advantages of the inventi on will be apparent as Iproceed with my specification, which,takei1` in connection with theaccompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a portion of the record carrierand the associated reproducer assembly, the tone arm being shown inposition-to start the playing of a record;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view-0f a .portion of the record carrier and theassociated repro- 50 ducer assembly, the position of the tone armreproducer assembly showing the tone arm of the carrier so that thechange from one at the beginning of the record being shown in solidlines, and the position of the tone arm at the end of the record beingshown in dotted lines; l

Fig. -3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, looking towardthe record carrier from the right hand side of the machine, viewing 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view of the p ioved to the inactlve ornon-playing posilon.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showin theupper portion of the reproducer assemb y;

F ig. 6 is a detail of the coin control cut-out switch, taken on theline 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig.- 7 is a detail section of the tone arm, the section being takenimmediately forward of the tone arm supporting bracket;

Fig. 8 is a broken detail section of one of the record supports; .and

Fig. 9 is-a wiring diagram of the various electrical circuits employedin the machine.

The record carrier comprises a series of radially disposed recordholders 10, secured by means of screws 11 to a hub 12, which is mountedon a horizontal shaft 13, said shaft being journaled in uprights 14which are in turn secured to a base 15 by bolts 16. Each of the recordholders 10 is provided with a central aperture for receiving recordsupporting spindles 17, which in turn support recordcarrying plates ordiscs 18.

The records 19 are removably secured to the record-carrying discs'18 bymeans of a spring clamp 20, shown in detail in Fig. 8. The spindle 17 isprovided centrally with a bore in which is retained a spring-pressedbutton 21, the upper end of which is rounded and bears against a clip 22which is provided with a slot 23 for receiving a pin 24, said pinextending between ears 25 on the, upper end of the spindle 17. It willbe apparent that by shifting the clip 22 laterally until the pin 24 isat the extremity of the slot, the clip may be pivoted about the pin 24into vertical position, whereupon the record 19 may. be removed. A notch22, formed in t e end of the clip 22, vreceives the upper end of thebutton 21 when the clip is in the vertical po.-

sition thereby locking 1t in that position and it will be apparent thatthe spring-pressed plunger 21 also serves to hold said clip in thelocking position shown in said Fig. 8.

Thespindle 17 is revolubly mounted in a sleeve 27 which is fixedlysecured to the record holder 10 by means of a cap 28 which has screwthreaded engagement with a shoulder portion 29 of the sleeve 27. Abearing 30 affords free rotation for the s indle17 in the sleeve 27 Thelower end o the spindle 17 is provided with a stud 31, the free end ofwhich is threaded to vreceive a lock nut 32 which bears against a flaned collar 33 thereby retaining the spindle 1 within said sleeve 27. Therecord-carrying d isc orplate 18 is fixedly secured to the spindle 17,and may conveniently be made of sheet metal, the circumferential edgebeing turned down as shown at 34 to alord a bevelled face for a frictiondrive. A felt pad 35 may be placed on the upper face of the record plate18 to afford a soft surface for engaging the under face of the'record.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the shaft 13 upo rieris supported 1s rotated by a motor 36 carrying a toothed gear 37 theprongsof which engage the links of a chain 38, which in turn engages asprocket 39 mounted on sald Ashaft 13. As will hereinafter appear, the

motor 36, which thus effects a movement of the record carrier, isadapted to de-energized as the record to be played 1s brought to theplaying station, leaving the recordcarrier stationary until such recordh as been completed after which the motor is agaln energized and turnssaid record carrier suiciently to bring the next or a selected record tothe playing station. i

Associated with the record carrier 1s a reproducer assembly adapted toplay. the record which has been brought into positlon by s aid carrier.The reproducer assembly comprises a tiltably mounted tone arm support40, to

which is pivotally secured a tone arm 41, said arm being provided with apick-up element 42 which has a needle 43 for engaging the sound grooves`of the records 19. The tone arm support 40 is pivotally mounted at 44to an upright 45 which in turn is secured to the base 15 by the bolts46.

The tone arm 41 is arranged for double pivotal movement relative to thetone arm support 40. For this purpose there 1s provided a pin 47 (seeFig. 7) which pivotally secures a bracket 48 to the tone arm support 40,and said bracket 48 is provided with a pair of spaced ears 49 betweenwhich extends a pin 50 upon which the tone arm 41 is pivotally mountedto permit it to Aswing about a horizontal axis. The pivotal movement ofthetone arm 41 about the pin 50 allows the needle to followirregularities or undulations n which the record carin themovement ofthe record, and the pivotal movement of said arm about the pin 47yallows it to swing across the record from the position shown by thesolid lines in Fig. 2 to that shown by the dotted lines in said figureas the playing of the record progresses. `A

41` is thus resiliently supported from the tone arm support 40 so thatthe needle maybe lowered onto the record without danger of suddenimpact. l

As will hereinafter appear, after the tone arm 41 has traversed therecord, the tone arm support 40 is automatically tilted from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. During this movementthe tone arm 41 pivots about the pin 47 to assumea folded positionadjacent t e tone arm support 40 as shown in Fig. 2. A stop flange 57carried by the tone arm 41 serves to limit the return movement of thearm as it is tilted into nonplaying or inactive position (see Figs. 5and 7). A downwardly inclined arm 58 Aextends laterally from the tonearm support 40 to afford a support for the tone arm 41 during theinterval in which the reproducer assembly is being tilted from thevertical position into the horizontal position preparatory to playingthe record.

rlhe reproducer assembly is automatically tilted to and from playingposition by the movement of the record carrier, which, through camyaction, controls the pivotal movement of the tone arm support 40. Themechanism for this purpose comprises a large cam ring 59 (see Fig. 1)circumferentially disposed about the record carrier and secured theretoby cleats 60 which may be formed as an integral part of the recordholders 10. The cam ring 59 is preferably made up of a series of camunit segments which are joined end for end. to form the complete camring. Ihe adjacent ends of the cam segments are Joined to the cleats 60by means of the bolts 61. Each of the cam segments is cut to form a camgroove 62, adapted to engage a roller 63, carried by the lower free endof a lever 64 which is pivotally supported at 65 to a yoke 66, securedto the base 15, said yoke' including a pair of vertical arms 67 and 68between the upper free ends of which the lever 64 is supported.. Theupper end of the lever 64 is provided with a hook 69 adapted to engage alug` 70 on the lower free end of the tone arm bracket 40. It will beapparent that as the record carrier is moved ina counter-clockwisedirection, viewingv Fig. 1, to

bring a record to the playing station, the cam roller 63, in followingthe (preripheral surface of the cam ring 59, will op into the camringgroove 62, which movement will in turn pivot the lever 64 1n a clockwisedlrection, viewing Fig. 1, thereby permitting the tone arm support 40 toturn 1n a counter-clockwise direction upon its pivot 44 to lower thetone arm 41 into horizontal ositivon preparatory to playing a record. enthe record carrier is subsequently turned to remove the record from theplaying station the roller 63 is projected outwardly by the cam groove62 which in turn, through the movement of the lever 64, throws the tonearm support 40 and the tone arm 41 into the vertical or in- A activeposition shown in Fig. 4.

The records are driven by a disc drive motor 71 provided with a driveshaft 72, the upper free end 'of which is equipped with a friction wheel73 which is adapted to engage the bevelled face 34 of the record sup-.porting plate or disc 18. The motor is angularly mounted in a yoke 74which is secured to the base plate 15, said yoke including vertical'arms75 and 76 between which extends shaft 77 which in turn affords pivotalsupport for arms-7 8 and 79 rigidly affixed to the shell of the motor71.

The speed of the motor is regulated by a ball governor 8O mounted on thedrive shaft 72. A brake shoe 81 is carried on the free end of a lever 82(see Fig. 2) which is pivoted at 83 to an arm 84 carried on the upperend of the motor supporting member 79. The brake shoe 81 is thus mountedto swing with the disc motor 71 and is at all times in a position toengage a friction disc 85 carried by the governor when said disc ismoved upwardly due to the extension of the balls of said governorcarried by centrifugal force in the rotation of the motor shaft. Anadjusting screw 86 is provided to regulate the position of the shoe 81relative to the friction disc 85.

The rotation of the record carrier is not only adapted, as previouslypointed out, to control the movement of the reproducer assembly, but isalso utilized to control the tilting movement of the disc motor 71 tobring the drive wheel 73 into engagement with a record plate 18 afterthe latter has been brought into position at the playing station. Forthis purpose the motor 71 is provided with an apron 87, secured to theshell of the motor, and equipped with a roller 88 which is positioned toengage a cam surface 89 formed in the lever 64 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Asthe movement of the record carrier brings the roller 63 into engagementwith the cam groove 62 to thereby turn the lever 64 in acounter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1, the roller 88 in turnfollows the cam surface 89 in the lever 64 thereby allowing the discmotor 71 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction to bring the, drivewheel 73 into engagement with the edge of therecord. plate 18. A coilspring 90 secured at one end to alu 91 upon the motor shell and at theother end to alu 92 on the lever 64, serves to draw the motor 1 forwardlto keep the roller 88 in engagement with t e cam surface89 on the lever64. Said spring 90 also serves to hold the roller 63 on the lower end ofthe lever 64 in engagement with the cam ring 59.

The disc motor 71 is positioned to be in the main. circuit at all timesand is designed to be in continuous operation until the main circuit isautomatically opened by a suitable multiple Vcoin control. `Referring toFigs. 5 and 6, the mechanism for actuatingthe coin control comprises anarm 96 pivoted at 97 to the tone arm support 40 and normally held `inthe position shown in said Figs. 5 and 6 by a spring 98, which issecured at one end to the tone arm support 40 and at the other end tothe upper free end of the arm 96; and an arm 99, pivotally mounted at100 on the upright 45, and provided with a s ring held contact 101adapted to make and break a circuit with the contact102. A spring 103,extending between a fixed point on the upright 45 and the arm 99,normally holds the contacts 101 and 102 apart. When the tone arm support40 is tilted into inactive position record, a stud 104 on the lower endofthe arm 96 momentarily engages the free end of the arm 99 andcompletes the multiple coin con-` trol circuit by closing the terminals101 and 102. If the number of pieces corresponding to the number ofcoins inserted have been plaed the main circuit will automatically bebro en by the multiple coin control mechanism and the disc motor 71 willbe shut ofi'. If, however, additional records remain to be played thecompletion of the circuit at the terminals 101, 102, merely serves toreturn the multiple coin circuit controller one step towards circuitbreaking position, and the disc motor 71 will continue to run until anumber of records corresponding to the number of coins inserted havebeen played. A

-coin control device affording action of the type referred to is shownin my co-pending application Serial No. 427,670 filed February 12, 1930,which has become Patent #1,864,144, dated June 21, 1932.

The record changing motor 36, however, is arranged in the circuit ytoeffect a periodic change of the records and necessarily must be shutoii' during the interval that the record is being played. For thepurpose of automatically controlling the record changing motor 36 thereis provided an automatic double acting switch which is controlled by themovement of the tone arm 41 to start the record changing motor 36immediately upon the completion of the playing of the record.- Thisswitch is best shown in Figs.

2 and 3. It comprises a double throw arm 105 pivotally mounted at 106 ona switch plate 1.07, which in turn is supported on the upright 45. Oneend of the arm 105 is provided with a toothed rack 108, the teeth ofsaid rack being arranged to engage a pawl 109 which is pivotally mountedat.110 on a bracket 111, said bracket being carried by an arm 112 which:forms a part of the tone arm 41. A stop 111a limits the turning ofthepawl 109 on the pivot 110 when the tone arm 41 is tilted intoinoperative position. As the tone arm 41. is drawn across the record bythe sound grooves, the pawl 109 rides across the rack 108. If the recordis of the type which is provided at the end of the piece with aneccentric groove such as is shown at 113, the reverse movement of thetone arm caused by the needle riding in the eccentric groove will causethe pawl 109 to engage the rack 108 which in turn moves the switch arm105 into enga ement with a contact arm 114, said arm 114 eing alsopivotally mounted on the switch plate 107. The circuit is thereuponcompleted through contacts 115 and 116 car-- ried by the switch arm 105and the contact arm 114, respectively, to thereupon energize the recordchanging' motor 36. If the record is of the type in` which the needletravels in a uniform spiral to the innermost groove which is indicatedat 117, the pawl 109 completely traverses the teeth on the rack 108 andengages a stop 118 to throw the switch arm 105 into engagement with acontact arm 119,'which in turn completes a circuit through contacts 120and 121, carried by the switch arm 105 and the contact arm 119,respectively, to energize the record changing motor 36. The contact arms114 and 119 are provided With depending ears 122 and 123, respectively,-which engage the edge of the switch plate 107 to prevent the arms frombeing drawn together under the action of spring 124 which extendsbetween the arms adjacent their points of pivotal support on the switchplate 107 The switch arm 105 is normally held midway between the arms114 and 119 by a spring 125 which is secured at one end to the arm andat the other end to a fixed point on the switch plate 107. Thisautomatic tone arm switch forms the subject matter of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 427,360, filed February 10, 1930, which hasbecome Patent #1,889,786, dated Dec. 6, 1932.

When the tone arm 41 is elevated the circuit to the record changingmotor 36 is broken by the removal .of the pawl y109 from the rack 108,however by the time thishas occurred, the circuit through the recordchanging motor 36 has been picked up by a running switch so that themovement of the record carrier is not interrupted. The running switchemployed for this purpose, and which is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and5,

comprises a contact arm 126 which is ivotedat 127 to an insulating plate`128, w` ich in turn is secured at 129 to the upright 45. The upper endof the contact arm 126 is provided with a contact 130, and theinsulating plate128 is provided with a contact 131, the circuit throughthe record changing motor 36 being completed through these contacts. Therunning switch is automatically closed to carry the circuit through therecord changing motor by the movement of the lever 64 -whiclr-isprovided with a shoe 132 positioned to engage the lower end of thecontact arm 126. A helical spring 133, secured at one end to the uprightand at the other end to the contact arm 126, serves to normally hold thelower end of said arm against the shoe 132. In the position of thereproducer assembly shown in Fig. 5 this running switch is opened, theassembly being in the playing position. As the lever 64 is turned bymovement of the record carrier to raise the reproducer assembly from theosition shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in ig.

44, the lower end of the contact arm 126, under the action of a spring133, follows the movement of said lever 64 and closes the contacts 130,131. The circuit through the record changing motor 36, which up to thispoint has been carried through the switch arm 105, is thereupon carriedthrough the running switch, and said motor continues to operate untilthe next station is reached. If the number of records corresponding tothe number of coins inserted have all been played, both the recordchanging motor 36 and the disc motor 71 are stopped at a pointintermediate a playing station by. the above mentioned cut-out switch101, 102, which controls the main line vcircuit through the multiplecoin control.

A supporting lever 134 is pivoted at 135 to the upright 45 and is curveddownwardly at its forward end to engage the lower edge of the tone armsupport 40. 'A helical spring 136 is secured at 137 to the forward endof the-lever 134 and is secured at the other end to the upright 45.Under the action of this spring the support member 134 checks thedownward movement of the reproducer assembly as it is tilted into thehorizontal position preparatory to playing.

rlhe tone arm 41 is projected across the smooth preipheral portion 138on the record 19 by means of a lever 139 which is pivoted at 140 to thetone arm support 40. The

lower end ofthe lever 139 is provided with a flange 141, and the otherend of the lever is secured to a helical sprin 142' which is secured toa fixed point on t e tone arm support 40. The ange 141 is positioned toengage the face of an adjustable screw 143 mounted in a cleat 144 whichis secured to the tone arm 41. When inthe-*elevated position the weightof the tonearm itself is suficient to hold it in folded position againstthe tone arm support 40. However, when the tone arm is lowered intoplaying position the spring 142 turns the lever 139 sufliciently toproject the needle across the marginal ring 138 to start it in the firstroove of the record. The screw 143 may e adjusted to control thedistance which the tone arm 4l is thus initially advanced by the lever139. The eXtreme lower end of the lever 139 may be provided with a bu'er145 which absorbs the shock incident tothe folding of the tone arm 41back against the tone arm support 40 when the reproducer assembly israised. Y

The control mechanism includes means for selecting any one of therecords 19 without the need of playing records which may intervenebetween the record which has just been played and the next desiredrecord. For this purpose there is provided a selector latch 146, shownin Figs. 1 and 4, which is provided near one end with a shoulder 147adapted to engage the roller 63 on the lower end of the lever 64. Whenin the unlatched position, as shown in Fig. 1, the roller 63 is free todrop into the cam groove 62 to permit the corresponding record tobe-played, but when the roller 63 is engaged by the notch 147, as shownin Fig. 4, it cannot drop into the cam groove 62 and the recordcorresponding to that groove will not be played inasmuch as thereproducer assembly Will not be lowered into playing position. Themovenent of the latch 146 is controlled by a magnet 148, the armature149 of which is pivotally mounted at 150 to the base 15. The latch 146is pivoted at 151 to the armature 149 and is yieldingly held against thecam roller 63 by aspring 152, secured at one end to the latch and at theother end to the armature. When the magnet 148 is energized the latch146 is retained against the roller 63, as shown in Fig. 4, and when itis `le-energized the armature drops and allows the latch to disengagethe roller 63.

The selector mechanism for controlling the magnet 148 is shown in Figs.1, 2 and 9. It comprises a selector element 153 mounted to lturn withthe shaft 13, and a second selector element 154 mounted to turn with ashaft 155, which rotates independently of the shaft 13. A dial 156,controlled through a ratchet 156a by a knob 157, is provided withnumerals as indicated at 158, said numerals indicating the recordscorresponding to like numbers indicated on a suitable chart. To select adesired record the dial 156 is turned until the number corresponding tothat record is opposite an indicator 159, whereupon a circuit whichnormally energizes the magnet 148 through the selector elements 153,154, and a conductor 153, (see Fig. 9) will be broken when the recordcarrier has been turned until the record selected is at the playingstation. The breaking of this circuit through the selector elementsoccurs when an insulating plate 154, carried bythe element 154, comesinto engagement with the conductor 153% The selector mechanism is sodesigned that after a selected record has been played the selectorelements 153 and 154 will rotate together and the magnet 148 remainsde-energized until another selection is made. If no. additionalselection is made the records will be played in continuous succession.The selector mechanism for accomplishing this purpose forms the subjectmatter of my co-pending application Serial No. 427,359, filed February10, 1930, which has become Patent #1,864,143, dated June 21, 1932.

The tone arm 41 is arranged to automatically control the speed of therecord changing motor 36. For this purpose there is provided a tone armswitch 160 shown in Fig. 2.'

The switch comprises a pair of spring contact arms 161 and 162 which arecarried by the tone arm support member 40 and are provided on theirouter free ends with contacts 163 and 164 respectively. The tone arm 41carries a cam stud 165 which normally holds the contact 163 against thecontact 164, as shown in Fig. 2. When the tone arm 41 is moved to thedotted position shown in said Fig. 2, the cam stud 165 is removed fromengagement with the arm 161 and opens the circuit between the contacts163 and 164.` The switch 160 is closed when the tone arm is raised andfolds back against the tone arm support. As will hereinafter be pointedout in the description of Fig. 9, this automatically cuts out part of aresistance which is shunted across the armature of the record changingmotor 36.

A speed control switch 166 (see Figs. 1 and 4) is provided to furthercontrol the speed of the record changing motor 36 during the interval ofthe record change. It comprises a switch arm 167 pivotally mounted at168 to an upright 169 which in turn is secured to the base 15; and aContact arm 170 mounted on the upright 169 adjacent the lower end of theswitch arm 167. The switch arm 167 is provided at its upper end with aroller 171 which normally is held against the shell of the motor 71 by aspring 172, which is secured at one end to the switch arm 167 and at theother end to a fixed point on the upright 169. As the disc motor 71 istilted from the playing position into the non-playing position, thecontacts 173 and 174, carried b the switch arm 167 and the contact arm 10 respectively, are separated. `As will appear presently in thedescription of Fig. 9, the opening of the switch 166, which occursalmost simultaneously with the closing of the tone arm switch 160, cutsout all of the resistance which is shunted across the armature of therecord changing motor 36, thereby accelerating the speed of this motor`during the interval between the removal of the completed record and thepositioning of a new one at the playing station. When the disc'motor 71pivots into playing position the switch 166 is closed, which actionthrows a part of the resistance in the shunt circuit across the armatureof the record changing motor 36 and chokes the speed ofthe motor. Itwill be noted that the tone arm switch 160, in conjunction with thespeed control switch 166, not only automatically adjusts the speed ofthe record changin motor to eliminate unnecessary delay inci ent to thechanging of the records but also slows the carrier down sufhciently togive the running switch plenty of time to open and stop the carrier atthe proper point for the next record. This deceleration also insuresgradual lowering of the needle onto the record, thereby avoiding dangerof breaking the record or damaging the needle by sudden impact.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a diagrammatic sketch of the electrical circuitsand their reation to the various parts of the phonograph mechanism. Arough outline of certain of the parts of the phonograph mechanism isshown so that by reference to the corresponding numbers on the otherfigures the relation of these parts to the circuits will be readilyunderstood.

The main circuit is taken from a plug 175 to a fuse block 176, fromwhich one side of the line is carried by the wire 177 to a`converterconnecting block 178, and from there by a wire 179 to the terminal block180. The other side of the line is taken from the fuse block 176,through the wire 181, to the terminal block 182, and from there by thewire 183 4through the carbon terminals 184, 185 and 186 of the multiplecoin control device, back through the wire 187 to the terminal block182. The wire 188 carries this side of the Y circuit from that pointdown to the converter connecting block 178 from which'point the4 Wire189 leads back to the terminal block 180. The two sides of the line arethence taken from the terminal block 180 by the wires 190 and 191 to theterminal block 192, from which block the various circuits 'are takenwhich feed the various working parts of the phonograph. It might beadded that wherever alternating current is available it is not necessaryto use the converter connecting block 178, the object of this blockbeing merely to adapt the apparatus for use where only direct current isavailable.

The disc motor 71 is placed directly across the main line terminals onthe terminal block 192 and accordingly is continuously in operationuntil the main line is interrupted by the multiple coin control which isautomatically returned one step toward circuit breaking position whenthe magnet 193 is energized by the completion of a circuit through thecontacts 101, 102.

The record changing motor 36 is fed from the terminal block 192 by thewire 194, the circuit being through the armature of the motor, thencethrough the wire 195 back to the terminal block 192, through the wire196 to the arms 114 and 119 of the double acting cut-off switch, andthence through the wire 197 back to the main line terminal on the block192. The record changing motor 36 therefore, is periodically operatedthrough the combined action of the double throw cutoil switch and therunning switch 126 which is inserted between the wires 196 and 197leading to the double throw cut-off switch.

The speed of the record changing motor 36, as previously pointed out, iscontrolled by the tone arm switch 160 and the speed control switch 166.This speed control is effected by shunting across the armature of themotor a iixed resistance 198, a portion` 198* of which is arranged to beautomatically y cut out upon the closing of the tone arm j switch 160,and the balance 198b of which remains shunted across the armature of themotor 36 until the speed control switch 166 is opened. A variableresistance 199 may be inserted in series with the fixed resistance 198to control the amount of resistance which is shunted across the armatureof the record changing motor 36. The resistances 198 and 198b act as achoke for controlling the speed of the record changing motor 36. Forexample, assuming that the needle is at the end of the record, at whichpoint the tone arm switch 160 is open and the speed control switch 166is closed, all of the resistance 198 will be shunted across the armatureof the motor 36. Most of the current will therefore go through the motorarmature and the motor therefor has suflicient power to start thecarrier and raise the reproducer assembly. As the reproduceris tilted toinactive position the tone arm folds back and closes the switch 160which cuts out the resistance 198 from the shunt circuit. At about thesame instant the switch 166 is opened and removes all of the shuntresistance resulting in acceleration of the record changing motor. Whenthe reproducer assembly is lowered to play another record the switch 166is closed which again places the shunt circuit across the armature ofthe motor 36. At this time, however, only the variable resistance 199and the portion 198b of the resistance 198 are in the shunt circuit, theportion 198'* remaining cut out until the tone arm again moves acrossthe record and opens the switch 160. The speed of the motor 36 istherefore cut down considerably since a good portion of the resistanceis removed from the shunt circuit. As the roller 63 drops into the camgroove 62 the record changing motor 36 is therefore moving quite slowlyand ample time is allowed to bring the record to rest atthe proper la 1nosition.

p 'lyhegmragnet 148, controlling the selector latch 146, is fed from themain circuit through the wires 194 and 200, the return being through thewires 201, the'selector element 153, the conductor 153, the selectorelement 154, and the .wire 202 back to the other side of the line on theterminal block 192.

The amplifier 203 is fed directly from the block 192 by the wires 204and 205. The magnetic pick-up 42 is connected by the wires 206 and 207to the amplifier 203, 'a variable resistance 208 being inserted as ameans of volume control. An automatically controlled modulator may beincluded in the amplifying circuit if desired. It consists of aresistance 209 which is shunted across the leads 206, 207. Thisresistance is automatlcally thrown in for any particular record by themodulator disc 210 which is mounted on the shaft 13. The disc isprovided with adjustable tabs 211 which may be positioned to engage thearm 212 of the modulator switch.` When the tab engages the modulatorswitch arm 212, the switch is closed and the resistance 209 is thrown inthe amplifying circuit to soften the tone. The tabs 211 which controlthe modulator switch are positioned to correspond to the records on therecord carrier. The speaker 213 is connected in a well-known manner withthe amplifier 203.

While the operation of the apparatus has been outlined in the foregoingdescription, 1t is believed that a brief description of the sequence ofthe several steps in the operatlon of the device will aid to a clearerunderstanding of the invention. Assuming the parts are in theintermediate position shown in Fig. 4, in which the reproducer assemblyis raised and held in the non-playing position, upon the dropping of acoin in the multiple coin control, the circuit is completed through thecarbon terminals 184, 185, thereby starting the disc motor 71, and alsothe record changing motor 36 Whose circuit is completed inasmuch as therunning switch 126 in this position is closed. The record carrier turnsuntil the record corresponding to the number selected on the dial 156has arrived at the playing station, whereupon the selector latch 146releases the roller 63, which is then free to drop into the cam groove62'on the cam ring 59. The tone arm thereupon pivots from vertical tohorizontal position under the action of the lever 64, and the disc motor71 is tilted until the friction wheel 7 3 engages the edge of the recordplate 18. As the disc motor 71' tilts into drivlng position the speedcontrol switch 166 is closed and the record changing motor 36 is sloweddown by the throwing in of the shunt circuit across the motor armature.The needle is thereupon projected across the smooth band 138 on the edgeof the record and is then drawn by the record, the tone arm switch 160being opened during this interval to place the additional resistance198a in the shunt circuit. The double throw switch 105 closes thecircuit through the record changing motor 36, which starts the turningof therecord carrier. The

turning of the record carrier, through the action of the cam goove 62 onthe roller 63 then tilts the tone arm 41 into vertical non-playingposition, the disc motor 71 being at the same time tilted back intoinactive position. As the tone arm 41 swings back against the tone armsupport 40 the double throw switch 105 is opened, but by this time therunning switch 126 is closed and carries the record changing motor 36.When the tone arm 41 folds back against the tone arm support 40, thetone arm switch 160 is closed which in turn cuts out the resistance1988, and at about the same instant the switch 160 is opened to speed upthe record changing motor by opening the shunt circuit. As the tone armis raised the arm 96 engages the arm 99 to close the cut-out switchwhich, through the multiple coin control, will open the main linecircuit cutting off both motors when the number of records correspondingto the number of coins inserted have been played. If additional recordsremain to be played the closing of the terminals 101, 102, merelyreturns the multiple coin control switch one step toward circuitbreaking position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic multiple record phonograph comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in -spaced relation around said axis, areproducer assembly including a tone arm and a tone arm support, thelatter being mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, said tonearm having pivotal connection with said support permitting it to swingrelative thereto in a plane substantially parallel to the face of therecord, and means supported on and rotatable with the carrier for movingsaid reproducer assembly into and out of operative relation to therecords at predetermined stages in the operation of the machine.

2. An automatic multiple record phonograph comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and p'rovided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis, and areproducer assembly including a tone arm and a tone arm support, thelatter being mounted sound grooves until it reaches the end of theincluding a-plurality of record supports radifor pivotal movement in avertical plane, said tone arm havlng double pivotal connection with saidsupport permitting it to swing relative thereto in-a plane substantiallyparallel to the face of the record and in a second plane substantiallyat right angles to the face of the record.

3. An automatic multiple record phonograpli comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis, areproducer assembly mounted adjacent said carrier, and an annular cammember circumterentially disposed about said supports and operable uponrotation of the carrier to move said reproducer assembly into and awayfrom playing position.

4. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports radially mountedon a common center; record drive mechanism mounted .adjacent saidcarrier and automatically movable into and :iut of operative relation tothe record supports as the latter are presented to and removed from aplaying station; a tiltably mounted reproducer assembly automaticallymovable into and out of operative relation to 'Lhe records atpredetermined stages in the operation of the machine, said reproducerassembly including a tone arm having pivotal mounting permitting it toswing in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the rec- 'n'd,and means supported on and rotatable with the carrier for moving saidreproducer assembly and record drive mechanism to and from operativeposition.

5. An automatic multiple-record phonoraph comprising; a rotatable recordcarrier including a plurality of record supports radially mounted on acommon center; record drive mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier andautomatically movable into and out "t operative relation to the recordsupports as the latter are presented to and removed from a playingstation; a tiltably mounted reproducer assembly automatically movableinto and out of operative relation to the records :it predeterminedstages in the operation of the machine, said reproducer assemblyincluding a tone arm having pivotal mounting permitting it to swing in aplane substantially parallel to the face of the record; and means forrotating said carrier, the movement of said reproducer assembly to .andfrom operative position being eiiected by the rotation of said carrier.

6. An automatic multiple-record phono- 'raph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier ally mounted on a common center; record drive mechanismmounted adjacent said carrier and automatically movable into and out cfoperative relation to the record supports as the latter are presented toand removed from a playing station; a tiltably mounted reproducerassembly automatically movable into and out of operative relation to therecords at predetermined stages in the operation of the machine, saidreproducer assembly including a tone arm having pivotal mountingpermitting it to swing in a lane substantially parallel to the face of te record; and means for rotating said carrier, the movement of saidrecord dr1ve mechanism to and from operative position being effected bythe rotation of said carrier.

7. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports radially mountedon a common center; record drive mechanism mounted adjacent said carrierand automatically movable into and out of operative relation to therecord supports as the latter are presented to and removed from aplaying station; a tiltably mounted reproducer assembly automaticallymovable into and out of operative relation to the records atpredetermined stages in the operation of the machine, said reproducerassembly including a tone arm having pivotal mounting permitting it toswing in a plane substantlally parallel to the face of the record; andmeans for rotating said carrier, the movement of said reproducerassembly and record drive mechanism to and from operative position beingeffected by the rotation of said carrier.

8. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprisin ;a rotatable recordcarrier including a plura ity of record supports radially mounted on acommon center; record drive mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier andautomatically movable into and out of operative relation to the recordsupports as the latter are presented to and removed from a playingstation; and a tiltably mounted reproducer .assembly automaticallymovable into and out of operative relation to the records atpredetermined stages i-n the operation of the machine, said reproducerassembly including a support arm, a needle-carrying member pivotallymounted on said support-arm, meansfor producing initial advancement ofsaid needle-carrying member, spring mea-ns resiliently supporting saidneedle-carrying member from the support arm during the playing interval,and a springheld member operable to retard the downward movement of saidreproducer assembly.

9. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a record carrier;a reproducer assembly, including a tone arm, mounted adjacent saidcarrier; electrically operated means for moving said'carrier to changerecords at a playing station; and means for controlling the recordchanging movement of said carrier, said last mentioned ing switchoperable by movement of saidtone arm at the end of the record to startmovement of the carrier immediately upon completion of the playing of arecord, and a running switch operable upon the openingof the startingswitch to maintain a circuit through said carrier moving means duringthe interval of the record change, said running switch being actuated bythe carrier to cut off said carrier moving means upon the positioning ofanother record at the playing station.

10. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a recordcarrier; a reproducer assembly* mounted adjacent `said carrier; meansfor rotating said carrier to change records at a playing station; andmeans operated through rotation of said carrier for moving saidreproducer assembly into and away from playing position, said lastmentioned means including a cam ring mounted to turn with the recordcarrier, said ring being provided with cam grooves, and a leveroperatively connected with said reproducer assembly and provided with acam roller positioned to engage said cam grooves.

11. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis; areproducer assembly mounted adjacent said carrier; mea-ns for rotatingsaid carrier to change records at a playing station; and means operatedthrough rotation of said carrier for moving said reproducer assemblyinto and away from playing position, said last mentioned means includinga cam ring circumferentially disposed about said supports, said ringbeing provided with a series of cam grooves corresponding in number tothe number of records, and a lever operatively connected with saidreproducer assembly and provided with a cam roller positioned to engagesaid cam grooves.

12. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis; areproducer assembly, including a tone arm, mounted adjacent saidcarrier; means for rotating said carrier to change records at a playingstation; means for controlling theV record changing movement of saidcarrier, said control means including a switch operable by movement ofsaid tone arm at the end of the record to start rotation of the carrierimmediately upon completion of the playing of the record: and a cam ringcircumferentially disposed about said supports and operable uponrotation of said carrier to move said reproducer assembly into and :awayfrom playing position.

13. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with'a pluralityof record supports mounted in s aced relation around said axis; a reproucer assembly mounted adjacent said carrler; means for rotating saidcarrier to change records at a playing station; means for controllinglthe record changlng move- I means operated through rotation of saidcarrier for moving said reproducer assembly into and away from playingposition, said last mentloned means including a cam ringcircumferentially disposed about said supports, said ring being providedwith cam grooves, and a lever operatively connected with the reproducerassembly and provided with a cam roller positioned to enga e said camgrooves.

14. An automatic mutiple-record phonograph comprising; a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis; recorddrive mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier; a reproducer assembly,including a tone arm, mounted adjacent said carrier; means for rotatingsaid carrier to change records at a playing station; means forcontrolling the record changing movement of said carrier, said controlmeans including a switch operated by movement of the tone arm at the endof the record to start rotation of the carrier immediately uponcompletion of the playing of the record; and an annular cam membercircumferentially disposed about said supports and operable uponrotation of the carrier to move said record drive mechanism into and outof operative position.

15. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a recordcarrier; record drive mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier; areproducer assembly, including a tone arm, mounted adjacent saidcarrier; means for rotating said carrier to change records at a playingstation; means for controlling the record changing movement of saidcarrier, said control means including a switch operable by movement ofsaid tone arm at the end of the record to start rotation of the carrierimmediately upon completion of the playing of the record, and a switchoperable by further movement of said carrier to cut off said carrierrotating means when the next selected record arrives at the playingstation; and a cut out switch operable by rotation of the carrier to cutoi both the record drive mechanism and the carrier rotating means withthe reproducer positioned at a point intermediate a pair of adjacentrecords.

16. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports; a reproducerassembly automatically movable into and out of operative relationto therecords; means for rotating said carrier to chan e records at a playingstation; and Spee control means associated with said carrier rotatingmeans for automatically giving the carrier a running speed somewhatgreater than the starting speed permitted the latter, whereby tominimize the time required to effect a record change.

17. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports; record drivemechanism mounted ad]acent said carrier and automatically movable intoand out of operative relation to the record supports as the latter arepresented to and removed from a playing station; a reproducer assemblyautomatically movable into and out of operative relation to the records;means for rotating said carrier to change records at a playing station;and speed control means associated with said carrier rotating means forautomatically giving the carrier a running speed somewhat greater thanthe starting speed permitted the latter, whereby to minimize the timerequired to effect a record change.

18. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports; a reproducerassembly, including a tone arm, automatically movable into and out ofoperative relation to the records; electrically operated means forrotating said carrier to change records at a playing station; and meansfor automatically controlling the speed of said carrier rotating means,said control means comprising a speed control circuit including a switchactuated by rotation of the carrier lto accelerate its speed of rotationduring the interval of movement between the selected records, saidswitch being operable to retard rotation of the carrier as thereproducer assembly approaches operative position preparatory to theplaying of the next selected record.

'19. An automatic multiple-record phonograph comprising; a rotatablerecord carrier including a plurality of record supports; a reproducerassembly, including a tone arm, automatically movable into and out ofoperative relation to the records; electrically operated means forrotating said carrier to change records at a playing station; and meansfor automatically controlling the speed of said carrier rotating means,said control means comprising a speed control circuit including a switchactuated by rotation of the carrier to accelerate its speed of rotationduring the interval of movement between the selected records, saidswitch being operable to retard rotation of the carrier as thereproducer assembly approaches operative position preparatory to theplaying of the next selected record, and a second swltch actuated bymovement of the tone arm and operable in conjunction with said irstmentioned switch to give said carrier a starting speed somewhat greaterthan the speed permitted the carrier upon the approach to the playinstation.

20. n automatic multiple record phonograph comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis, atiltably mounted reproducer assembly mounted adjacent said carrier, andan annular cam member circumferentially disposed about said supports andoperable u on rotation of the carrier to move sai reproducer assemblyinto and away from playing position.

21. An automatic multiple record phonograph comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis, areproducer assembly mounted adjacent said carrier, a movably supportedrecord drive mechanism, and an annular cam member circumferentiallydisposed about said supports and operable upon rotation of the carrierto move said record drive mechanism to and from operative position.

22. An automatic multiple record phonograph comprising a record carrierrotatably supported on a horizontal axis and provided with a pluralityof record supports mounted in spaced relation around said axis, atiltably supported reproducer assembly mounted adjacent said carrier, amovably supported record drive mechanism, and an annular cam membercircumferentially disposed about said supports and operable uponrotation of the carrier to move said reproducer assembly and recorddrive mechanism to and from operative position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

BERT E. VMILLS.

